Amateur-built FJ-1 accident near Banks, Oregon, April 22, 2007
On April 22, 2007 at about 9:27 pm local time, a amateur-built FJ-1 (glider), registered N366W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Banks, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudged distance/altitude that led to a failure to attain the proper touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2007 · about 9:27 pm local time
- Place
- Banks, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FJ-1
- Registration
- N366W · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider experienced a loss of lift and collided with a bench during a forced landing in a field. A towplane launched the glider, releasing it 4 nautical miles southwest of the departure airport at an altitude of 2,700 msl. The pilot discovered several thermals in the area and ascended to 3,700 feet msl. Shortly thereafter, the glider encountered rain showers and began to lose altitude. Though the bad weather appeared as though it was dissipating, the glider continued to descend. The pilot opted to land in a plowed field. The glider touched down in the field farther down than the pilot anticipated. The pilot did not have a sufficient distance to stop before the glider's right wing collided with a robust bench.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 331 hours in all; 276 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1OR4 North Plains OR at 1:36 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.